Could another oft injured RB find a home here in Houston? [Idle Rudi Speculation]

[nero THE zero]

Source: Chris Mortensen, ESPN Monday Night Countdown

ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting that the Cincinnati Bengals are shipping RB Rudi Johnson in trade talks. On ESPN's Monday Night Countdown, Mortensen said they're asking for a "real receiver" who could help out if WR Chad Johnson suffers a setback in his recovery from a partially torn labrum.

The needs seem to match up; we have depth at WR and a need at RB, and the Bengals are offering a RB for a WR. The Harry Williams injury and Jacoby Jone's problems have certainly hurt our "depth" at WR. But, does the emergence of David Anderson make Kevin Walter or Andre Davis expendable?

[KJ3]

i think, if anything, the emergence of david anderson makes jacoby jones expendable. maaaaybe andre davis but i think his 1 or 2 15+ yard catches a game coupled with the fact that if he gets a few blocks no one is going to catch him on a return makes him a pretty sure thing. kevin walter absolutely not. if the bengals wanted andre davis or jacoby jones straight up for rudi johnson i'd be inclined to listen.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by KJ3

i think, if anything, the emergence of david anderson makes jacoby jones expendable. maaaaybe andre davis but i think his 1 or 2 15+ yard catches a game coupled with the fact that if he gets a few blocks no one is going to catch him on a return makes him a pretty sure thing. kevin walter absolutely not. if the bengals wanted andre davis or jacoby jones straight up for rudi johnson i'd be inclined to listen.

I'd definitely do Jacoby for Rudi straight up, but I don't know that the Bengals would. They're looking for a possible replacement for Chad Johnson, and I don't think Jacoby is a legitimate candidate to do that. But I'd definitely offer either Jacoby or David Anderson and see if they bite. If not, maybe raise the ante to Andre Davis.

[KJ3]

but if we're signing up for "...another oft injured RB" then i don't see a need to trade away talent like jacoby, DA, or andre davis. we've already got them AND 2(!) oft-injured-RB's.

if they're looking for a replacement to chad johnson out of what we have to offer (jones, anderson, davis) then jacoby is by far the choice they would make. anderson's pre-season was nice but he doesn't have the size, speed, or potential that jones has and davis is a finished product so he is a known quantity. honestly i wish they would concentrate jones' efforts more to WR than PR because he kind of sucks at being a PR but that's neither here or there.

i'd have to look at stats before i made any real opinion of rudi johnson-the-hypothetical-texan. can't say that the injury question sits well with me but his reputation definitely puts him in an intriguing light.

[nero THE zero]

I appear to have had a false impression regarding his injury history.

He's 28, 5'10" 225lbs
Missed 5 games last year but played in all 16 the three years prior. 2004-2006 rushed for 1454 yds, 1458 yds, and 1309 yds. Averaging 4 ypc, 4.3 ypc, and 3.8 ypc respectively. Also, scored 12 rushing TD each of those seasons.

The negatives I can see from his stats is that he has a fumbling issue, which doesn't fly here.

Anyone knowledgable enough to break down his mechanics? From what I remember of him he seems to be more of a bruiser; more of a Jamal Lewis type. But my memory of him is fuzzy.

[KJ3]

yea but fumbles are less of a problem than injuries....to me anyway.

hell, if he played 16, rushed for 1,200, 12 TD that's about twice what anybody else on our team could do. i'd give jones or davis for that.

i also remember him leaning more towards power back but not quite jamal lewis power.

[dadmg]

Rudi's been slowing down the last few years from overuse. Including the post-season, Rudi averaged 350 carries per year from 2004-2006. Not very many running backs in league history have been able to sustain that heavy of a workload consistently without declining. From 2005-2007, his YPC declined from 4.3 to 3.8 to 2.9. He missed a few starts in 2005 and 2006, and then succumbed to injuries last year with 9 starts in 11 games. He might have one somewhat decent rebound season left in him a year or two down the line (akin to Jamal Lewis's overrated year last season or Ahman Green's last year in Green Bay), but he's unlikely to be worth an investment.

[coloradodude]

Andre Davis for Rudi Johnson? Are you guys insane?

Okay, I can see it if we also get their 2nd, 3rd and 4th next year.

They can have Andre Johnson for all their picks next year plus their first 3 picks in 2010...that would be worth it to them wouldn't it?

[KJ3]

andre davis for rudi johnson, a 2nd, a 3rd, and a 4th and you're asking if we're insane?

[Nconroe]

my thoughts, We may already be better at running back and the run game overall this year. And of course we could always get better.

It just seems Rudi Johnson is falling into the same category we have with Chris Brown and Ahman Green, ie. was really good, now hope stays healthy.

And for trading Andre Davis, he is a very good player we have, I agree that would be foolish to trade away, in most situations, unless it was say for Adrian Peterson, but just dreaming.

[popanot]

Texans should call him IMMEDIATELY!

http://www.bengals.com/

[popanot]

Kenton Keith was waived by the Colts. I'd call him too.

[painekiller]

The Cheifs kept 5 RBs, not counting the FB.

And the Bronco's IRed Aldridge, so he is out of reach for the year.

[Keith]

The Broncos IR'ing Alridge is joke. This practice of teams stashing young players to the IR is something the league should review.

I'm not sure the Texans would prefer Alridge over Darius Walker, but he would have to be someone worthy of consideration.

I'd been looking at teams with RB depth, and the Colts (Kenton Keith) and Eagles (Ryan Moats) have made their moves. I think both of them might be worth a look-see. Cliff Washburn's roster spot seems tenuous at best right now.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Keith

The Broncos IR'ing Alridge is joke. This practice of teams stashing young players to the IR is something the league should review.

I'm not sure the Texans would prefer Alridge over Darius Walker, but he would have to be someone worthy of consideration.

I'd been looking at teams with RB depth, and the Colts (Kenton Keith) and Eagles (Ryan Moats) have made their moves. I think both of them might be worth a look-see. Cliff Washburn's roster spot seems tenuous at best right now.

I am still trying to figure out how the chiefs can keep 5 RBs and we have have a hard time finding 3?

And I agree Aldridge being IRed is a joke and he was a guy I was looking at.

[NBT]

Oklahoma rookie RB Patrick Allen is on the waiver wire I see. He is kinda small at only 195, but he might be a cheap solution, even if temporary.

[NBT]

As far as stashing RB's on IR, aren't we doing that ourselves with Chris Brown? Or is that not a valid comparison?

[coloradodude]

You guys do know that Rudi Johnson was cut by the Bengals right?

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by NBT

As far as stashing RB's on IR, aren't we doing that ourselves with Chris Brown? Or is that not a valid comparison?

Brown was "hurt" in camp and could not be cut unless he agreed to a settlement. Well if he had agreed then he would be gone. He wants a paycheck for doing nothing, just as was predicted by most on this board.


Aldridge is shown practicing hard in his last practice. He does not look hurt to me. Look for yourself

[NBT]

Brown kinda tarnishes Rick Smith's reputation, doesn't it? And yeah, I agree that he just wants a paycheck for doing nothing.